A person who has trusted in Jesus Christ for salvation is ‘justified’ by God. As Charles Spurgeon wonderfully wrote, ‘God will never accuse me of owing for a debt that has already been paid.’ ‘But the just shall live by his faith’ This concept, first stated in Habakkuk 2:4, is so important that it is repeated and addressed three times in the New Testament.
In the Book of Proverbs, we find some promises from God for those who are ‘just’ (also translated, ‘righteous’ from both the Hebrew & Greek). One promise is to bless the habitation of the just. Our God delights in blessing His people. However, we often get so snared by our problems that we are blind to His blessings. But the just are those who do not simply know Jesus; they are those who continue to seek Him and grow in His grace.
God tells us that our path will be like a shining light, burning brighter every day, culminating in eternity with our Lord. To be assured that we are blessed by God, because we are prone to forget, the Holy Spirit tells us that blessings are upon the head of the just. Not only that, but blessings flow from the mouth of the just. May the Lord help each of us speak forth such ‘choice silver’ to others, well-seasoned words, words of wisdom.
Being just, or righteous, does not mean that we are not challenged in this life. No, there are trials and temptations for sure. However, the just person seeks God’s knowledge, and in finding and obeying it he finds deliverance. The just come out of trouble; thank You, Lord! The walk of a just person is the greatest advertisement for Jesus Christ, and he passes along blessings to his children.
Oh, the joy that a just person finds in doing God’s will! Oh, the ecstasy to know that we are a part of the resurrection of the just because of God’s grace through Jesus Christ! We are just, only because of the Just One. He, the Just One, died for me, the unjust one, that He might bring me to God. Living by faith is simply the fruit of trusting the Just One and enjoying the blessings that He confers upon us.
